Improvement in napkjn-holders



E. C. BICKFORD.

NAPKIN HOLDER.

Patented Feb. 13, 1877-.

MPETERS, PnOTO UI'NOGRAPMER, WAsmNGmN. u c

STATES PATENT EZEKIEL o. BIOKFORD, oF- onMoUTn, ILLINOIS.

IMPROVEMENT IN NAPKiN-HOLDERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 1 87,247, dated February 13, 1877; application liled December 5, 1876.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EZEKIEL (l. BIGKFORD, of Monmouth, in the county of Warren and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Napkin Supporters and Holders and I do hereby declare thatthe following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings and to letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

Figure l is a perspective view of a napkinsupporter embodying my invention in its normal condition or position of parts. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the same in its compressed or coiled form. Fig. 3 is the same view as Fig. 2, and illustrative also of its use as a holder of folded napkins. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the holder with a napkin in place thereon as when in use upon the person. Fig. 5 is a detail view.

The object of this invention is to provide a device which may be used to support a napkin dependent from the neck of a person, and also as a holder or ring for the napkin when folded in the ordinary manner; and the invention consists in a spring plate or bar that may be made to encircle, or partly encircle, the neck of the wearer, where it will support itself by its resiliency, and serve as a supporter for a napkin, and when removed from the neck may be coiled and secured by a stud and slot in a small compass or ring, which may be used as a napkin-holder, one of its ends being formed so that it may also he used for the same purpose.

Referring to the drawing by letters, A represents the spring-plate, made of spring steel, silver or nickel plated, ja-pa-nned, or blued, brass, iron, composition metal, rubber, bone, papier-mach, wood, or other suitable material, curved so that its normal condition will be about as shown in Fig. l of the drawmg. One end of the spring A is curved to form a ring, B, and its other end, 0, turned slightly outward. D is a stud, (see Fig. 5,)

with an enlarged outer end, and is affixed to the outer surface near the midlength of the spring A. E is a slot near one end of the spring A, and has an enlarged end, as shown in 'the drawings, through which the head of the stud D may be inserted when the spring is coiled, when a slight uncoiling of the spring will bring the stud D into the narrow part of the slot E, as shown at Figs. 2 and 3, where it will hold the spring A coiled, as shown at same figures, to form a ring, A.

G is a common napkin in a folded condition, and G is the same unfolded, except one corner, which is folded over the spring A.

The napkin G may be placed upon the spring A as shown in Fig. 4, while the spring is in its normal position, as shown. at Fig. 1; the ends of the spring may then be drawn apart, as shown by dotted lines at --Fig. 4, when it may be placed upon the neck of a person, and being released, its resiliency will cause it to contract, as shown by full lines at Fig. 4, and clasp the neck sufficiently tight to hold it in place and support the napkin in place over the bosom of the wearer.

For childrens use the napkin may be attached to the ring in some more secure mode. The outwardly-turned ends of the spring A will prevent their coming injuriously in contact with the neck or the clothing.

When coiled and secured as shown at Figs. 2 and 3, as hereinbefore described, the spring A becomes a ring, A, which may be stored or carried in a small space like the pocket, or may be used as a common napkin-ring for holding a folded napkin, a purpose for which the ring B may be also used, as shown at Fig. 3.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

i. A spring napkin supporter and holder, consisting of a resilient spring supporter, A, having a ring-holder, B, formed upon one Eng, substantially as and for the purpose speci- .18

2. A spring napkin supporter and holder, consisting of a spring, A, having a slot, E,

out therein, and a stud, D, affixed thereto, In testimony that I claim the foregoingas substantially as described, and for the purmy own I aflix my signature in presence of pose specified. two witnesses.

.3. A spring napkin supporter and holder, consisting of it spring, A, having a slot, E, EZEKIEL G. BIOKFORD.

, out therein, and a, stud, 1), a-flixed thereto,

and a ring-holder, B, formed upon one end Witnesses: thereof, substantially as described, and for the CHARLES W. SPARHAWK, purpose specified. SAML. SPABHAWK. 

